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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
ENGINEERING
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
SUSTAINABILITY
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
EDUCATION &TRAINING
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
NRMCA's celebration of the 100th anniversary of ready mixed concrete in the U.S. begins its submissions for December - see below for this week's Producer and Associate member Web site links. This week's industry milestone: In 1984, construction began on Utah’s Upper Stillwater Dam which, when completed, would become the world’s largest roller-compacted dam.
To have your company featured in this space in the coming weeks, please contact
CEMEX Inc. - CEMEX was founded in Mexico in 1906 as a small regional cement firm. More than 100 years later, CEMEX has grown into a global building materials company with operations throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It produces, distributes and sells cement, ready mixed concrete, aggregates and related building materials in more than 50 countries. CEMEX’s U.S. network includes 13 cement plants, 46 distribution terminals, over 100 aggregate quarries and more than 450 ready mixed concrete plants. Read more.
An NRMCA Producer member since 1975
Liebherr Concrete Technology Co. - The Liebherr family business was established in 1949 by Hans Liebherr. Today, Liebherr is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction machinery with more than 35,000 employees in over 130 companies across all continents. Read more.
An NRMCA Associate member since 2002
The Northern California College of Construction (NCCC) is sponsoring a career fair in partnership with Hire A Patriot, a 501©3 nonprofit. The Military & Veteran Employment, Education & Resource Event will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, 110 West Fremont Street, Stockton, CA, 95202. Hire A Patriot’s goals are to provide these events to assist veterans in their transition from military service to civilian life. This event is of particular importance to the ready mixed concrete industry as NCCC will begin its new CDL/Ready Mix Truck Driver Program in partnership with NRMCA. It provides a unique forum for members to recruit military veterans for driver and heavy equipment operator positions with member firms.
NRMCA Associate member CalPortland's Rillito, CA, cement plant has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR® certification, which signifies that the industrial facility performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA. To earn the EPA's certiciation, CalPortland among other steps installed a kiln expert control system to reduce the kiln process fuel intensity and installed a new gas conditioning tower with a baghouse modification that led to a 2.6 Million kWh/year savings.
ENERGY STAR® was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. The Glendora, CA-based CalPortland Company is a producer of cement, concrete, aggregates, concrete products and asphalt in the western U.S. and Canada.
Source: CalPortland news release
The use of Rapid Cure concrete has cut the number of closure hours needed for repair work on the M25 highway in the United Kingdom by 80%. The concrete technology, which adds "a super-plasticiser and a curing accelerator" to the concrete mix, is being tested by Connect Plus, a joint venture that involves Balfour Beatty and Skanska, for work on the old concrete roadway. "We've been developing the Rapid Cure concrete innovation over many months and it has enabled us to reduce carriageway closure hours by seven weeks this year alone," according to Tim Jones, chief executive of Connect Plus.
Source: AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter for December 3 which contained this November 29 article from the Construction Enquirer Web site.
Under the Design Assistance Program (DAP), NRMCA provides free concrete parking lot design recommendations intended for designers and specifiers not familiar with concrete parking lots. NRMCA is now offering a new program of particular interest to concrete contractors to help win projects and ensure concrete parking lot customer satisfaction that will assist even experienced contractors. The Jointing Plan Assistance Program (JPAP) provides the jointing plan component of the DAP recommendations to contractors to help them win projects and to deliver a high quality product even with a successful bid already in hand.
This program has been adopted with the knowledge that improper jointing, which can happen on projects placed by experienced contractors, frequently results in customer dissatisfaction even for a structurally sound project. Unhappy customers are likely to speak up on this issue among peers and acquaintances, which puts a damper on future concrete opportunities. DAP and JPAP recommendations significantly increase the likelihood of successful concrete bids, well-designed projects and satisfied customers. These programs are free for NRMCA members and also for State Affiliates and contractors in support of NRMCA members, specifiers and any open-bid projects.
For more information, contact any NRMCA National Resource Director or Amanda Hult at ahult@nrmca.org.
Teaching young minds about the significance of concrete is a goal of the Kentucky Ready-Mixed Concrete Association and the Kentucky Concrete Pavement Association (KCPA). Through an ongoing relationship with the University of Kentucky and Dr. K.C. Mahboub, associate dean for outreach and external partnerships and Lawson Professor of Civil Engineering, and Greg Smith, director of pavement technology for KCPA, NRMCA Vice President, National Resources, Amy Miller was invited to speak to civil engineering students on concrete parking lot design.
"While the focus was on concrete parking lots, the emphasis was on using the right document to design," Miller said. "I let the students know they would be entering into the private sector and potentially into jobs where design may not follow the only technical document available for concrete parking lot design, ACI 330. Along with design thickness, we also discussed the premise of concrete design and associated details important to proper design. "
"We want these upcoming professionals to understand concrete is the best option for pavement design that make sense from every possible aspect," Smith added. "It is our intention to continue this education process on an on-going basis."
For more information, contact Amy Miller at amiller@nrmca.org.
Jonathan Kuell, executive director with the Northern New England Concrete Promotion Association recently teamed with NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O’Neill to present to officials at the New Hampshire DOT. Historically, New Hampshire has looked at asphalt as its only alternative for paving. The group attending Kuell and O’Neill’s seminar included representatives from the Materials and Research Division, Highway Design and Highway Maintenance, among others. The scope of the talk revolved around the notion that other states in cold weather climates are using concrete successfully in any number of applications, including intersections, round-abouts and parking lots.
"We aren’t trying to replace asphalt in mainline paving," O’Neill said. "We simply wanted them to recognize that concrete was a viable solution to some of their paving problems." The attendees were interested to learn that states like Michigan and New York are making use of Alternate Bid/Alternate Design concepts to help lower their costs for paving along with the realization that concrete CAN work in cold weather climates despite their unwarranted perceptions.
"The idea that concrete is too expensive and won’t last is a hard concept for many engineers to break free of and we feel we took them another step closer to realizing that concrete offers some tremendous benefits to the taxpayers of the state of New Hampshire," Kuell added.
For more information, contact Doug O'Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.
NRMCA has announced a new State Affiliate Promoter of the Year Award to recognize outstanding concrete promotion contributions by an employee of one of NRMCA’s State Affiliate partner organizations. Nominees must be a current employee of the Affiliate and have worked in the industry for at least five years. Existing NRMCA promotion awards are the Lifetime Achievement Award for Promotion and the Concrete Producer Promoter of the Year Award. Nominations are open for all three awards with a December 20, 2013 deadline.
NRMCA promotion awards are presented at the Annual Convention every spring. Any active participant in the ready mixed concrete industry (including suppliers and contractors) can help a promotion champion gain acknowledgement by nominating him or her for any of these prestigious awards. Information about all three promotion awards and the simple nomination process can be found here.
If you were unable to participate in the RMC Research & Education Foundation’s informational Webinar held earlier this week, you can now access a recording of it from the Foundation’s YouTube channel by clicking here. The link, along with a link to the PowerPoint presentation, are also available from the Foundation’s homepage at www.rmc-foundation.org. The Webinar featured an update on the Foundation’s activities, including details about the work taking place at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub and updates on recent releases and newly-approved projects.
NRMCA is now accepting entries for its 2013 Kids Art Contest. In rounding out the 100th Anniversary of Ready Mixed Concrete, the theme for the contest is "The Evolution of the Ready Mixed Concrete Truck." The contest is open to kids up to grade 12 who have a relationship to an NRMCA member.
• All entrants must be related to or sponsored by an NRMCA member.
• Contestants are limited to one entry each.
• Artwork should be 100% produced by the entrant and be original.
• Entries may be in a medium of the artist's choice (oil, water color, pastels, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, crayon, etc.). Entries can be a drawing, collage, painting or other two-dimensional work.
• All entries must incorporate a ready mixed concrete truck in some manner – but should not be limited to a picture of a ready mixed concrete truck.
• Entries must be on 11" x 14" flat paper. We encourage artwork to be on good quality bond or drawing paper, or illustration board. Entries should not be framed or matted.
• For contact purposes, please include artist’s name, address, phone number, age and grade, and the name of the NRMCA member and his/her relationship to the artist on the back of their artwork.
• Entries must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, December 31.
Entries will be divided into the following grade categories: pre-K, K-2, 3-5 and 6-12. First, Second and Third place winners will be selected from each grade category. Entries will be judged only against others in their respective grade category. They will be judged on originality, effort, creativity, composition and interpretation of the theme.
Winners in each category will be announced at NRMCA’s Annual Convention, March 1-3, 2014 in Las Vegas. Winning entries will be auctioned off at the CONCRETEPAC Dinner & Auction to help raise money for NRMCA’s Political Action Committee. Images of the winning entries will be used later in the year to create a 2015 NRMCA calendar; winners and the sponsoring members will receive a free copy of the calendar.
All entries will be displayed at NRMCA’s Annual Convention and CONEXPO – CON/AGG, and entries will be on display at NRMCA’s headquarters in Silver Spring for the remainder of 2014. NRMCA reserves the right to copy and modify any entry for reproduction. Entries will not be returned and may be used for future promotional opportunities.
Entries must be post marked no later than December 31, 2013 and should be mailed or delivered to:
Kerri Leininger
NRMCA
900 Spring Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910
The Manufacturers, Products & Services (MPS) Division of NRMCA is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Concrete Cares Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in community service by an NRMCA producer member company.
With ready mixed concrete plants in almost every community in America, NRMCA member companies are making a real difference. From Earth Day celebrations, to organized volunteering for Boys & Girls Clubs, local schools and recreation departments, to raising awareness for breast cancer screenings, ready mixed producers are at work every day in their communities. The Concrete Cares Award aims to recognize these efforts and shine a national spotlight on the positive impact ready mixed concrete companies have in hometowns across the nation. A donation, in the name of the selected honoree, will be made to the charity of their choice. The award will be presented at NRMCA’s Annual Convention, March 1-3, 2014 in Las Vegas, during the Association’s annual Awards Breakfast.
Ready mixed concrete producers that are members of NRMCA are eligible for nomination. To check out past honorees and submit a nomination for consideration, please use the form found here and forward the nomination form and supporting materials to Kathleen Carr-Smith, senior vice president, membership and communications, via e-mail at kcarrsmith@nrmca.org or mail to 900 Spring Street, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Nominations must be received by Tuesday, December 31, for consideration.
The November 2013 Focus newsletter published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) includes the following topics:
• This Way to Bridge Preservation Training - Find the training you need on bridge preservation at a time that’s right for you with three new online courses sponsored by FHWA.
• Nominate a TIG Technology for 2014 - Nominate an innovative, ready-to-use technology for consideration as a 2014 selection by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Technology Implementation Group (TIG).
• FHWA to Introduce New Highway Materials Engineering Course - Get ready for a new Highway Materials Engineering course. Presented by FHWA over the last 20 years as the Highway Materials Engineering Academy, the course offered an opportunity for transportation agency personnel to gain the knowledge needed to develop materials specifications and guidance; make effective project acceptance decisions; and design, construct and maintain assets to achieve a long service life. FHWA is now extensively revising the course to update the technical content and add new content areas.
• SHRP2 Implementation Assistance: A Preview of Round 3 - FHWA and AASHTO will begin accepting applications January 17, 2014, for the third round of the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Implementation Assistance Program.
• FHWA Accepting Nominations for 2014 Excellence in Utility Awards - Nominations are now being accepted for FHWA 2014 Excellence in Utility Awards.
• Infrastructure Innovation Webinars
• Highway Technology Calendar
Click here to view the newsletter and access the above stories and other items.
Genesee Avenue Pedestrian Overcrossing, a Concrete Bridge with a High Degree of Curvature - Paul Morel, P.E., Kleinfelder|Simon Wong Engineering, Nathan Johnson, Ph.D., P.E., Kleinfelder|Simon Wong Engineering, Craig Shannon, P.E., Kleinfelder|Simon Wong Engineering - The opportunity to design a semi-circular pedestrian bridge allowed bridge engineers to design a concrete bridge with interesting aesthetics and features. Full Article
Controlling Prestress Release Cracks in High Performance Concrete Bridge Girders - Pinar Okumus, University at Buffalo, & Michael Oliva, University of Wisconsin - Very efficient pretensioned concrete highway bridge girders take advantage of high strength concrete, but can often exhibit unexpected end cracking upon prestress release, a concern for designers and manufacturers. Full Article
How to Specify and Construct Durable Crack Free Bridge Decks: Washington State Experience - Mark Gaines, P.E., Washington State Department of Transportation, Mohammad Sheikhizadeh, P.E., David Evans and Associates - The aging and deficient bridge infrastructure of the country is facing a replacement crisis. Full Article
Concrete Bridge Views is published jointly by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Concrete Bridge Council.
Please find below the following news stories: the first regarding FMCSA’s proposed change for reporting CSA violations; the second about FAA vs. FMCSA sleep apnea regulation processes. In addition, the third item is the White House release of its bi-annual update on pending federal regulations, including fall protection, EOBRs, backover prevention and many more.
- FMCSA to change violation challenge process in PSP, CSA. Read more. Source: Land Line magazine
- Mandatory Pilot Obesity/Sleep Apnea Screening: New FAA Policy Thumbs Its Nose at New Federal Commercial Driver Transportation Law. Read more. Source: Littler Publications
- Federal Pending Regulations Update. Source: Executive Office of the U.S. President, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
NRMCA's Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year Award acknowledges the significant contribution of ready mixed concrete truck drivers to the growth and success of individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry. As a salute to these key members of the concrete production and delivery team, the award recognizes the driver’s career achievement, safety, professionalism, competence and customer service skills in a manner that will enhance the industry and public image of the career Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional. The 2014 Ready Mixed Concrete Truck Driver of the Year Award winner will be honored at an award presentation ceremony at the NRMCA’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas in March 2014.
Click here to learn more, including a link to download an application form and staff contact for more information.
NRMCA’s Lionel Lemay and Colin Lobo were keynote speakers at the 2013 International Concrete Sustainability Conference, Middle East last week in Dubai. The conference, cosponsored by NRMCA and Grey Matters, is held in conjunction with the Big 5 Show, the largest building industry trade show in the Middle East. Speakers from around the world present on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research and solutions for sustainable concrete manufacturing and construction. Lemay presented New Radical Materials and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEED v4 and Lobo presented Specifying Durability Requirements for Concrete – Is There a Better Way?
In addition, Lemay and Lobo met with the Dubai municipal government to discuss ways NRMCA and its Middle East partner Grey Matters could provide additional services in the form of education and certification programs to help improve concrete construction in Dubai. The Dubai officials are interested in expanding their credentialing requirements for concrete producers to include the NRMCA Quality Producer Certification, Concrete Technologist Certification, Green-Star and Sustainable Concrete Plant Certification. Several NRMCA programs are already adopted in the Middle East.
Last month, Tien Peng, NRMCA’s vice president of sustainability, participated in a panel discussion at the 25th Annual Wildlife Habitat Council Symposium. Approximately 300 attendees from environmental organizations as well as major corporations including BP, General Motors, Titan America and Vulcan Materials attended the conference focusing on habitat conservation and management on corporate lands.
The session titled, "Leveraging Resources: Alignment of WHC Programs" describes the ideal partnership between the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) and NRMCA to provide a tool to for its members to implement on-the-ground biodiversity projects as well as link the successes of the initiatives to community outreach. This unique approach serves the specific needs of ready mixed concrete production facilities to demonstrate environmental stewardship and obtain recognition for voluntary initiatives. It is also compatible with the Sustainable Plant Certification and the WHC accreditations.
NRMCA encourages its members to consider this unique opportunity to engage with its local community on cost effective sustainability programs.
There are now 10.6 billion square feet of LEED green building projects across the globe, according to a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) report. In the U.S., there are 17,434 certified commercial and institutional projects, representing 2.3 billion square feet, and another 4.4 billion square feet pursuing LEED but not yet certified. Moreover, all federal agencies requires their buildings be LEED certified to meet their sustainability demands. If your business wants to participate in the growing green marketplace, you will need to know the details of the LEED rating system and how concrete can be recognized for its strong environmental benefits for sustainable development.
Attend the online Webinar series, "Concrete’s Role in Sustainable Development" this December 9-12 and you will learn about the new requirements in LEEDv4, LEED2009 and other protocols such as the 2030 Challenge, GreenGlobes and IGCC. This course will help participants understand the new rating system that emphasize material transparency with EPDs, CSRs and HPDs and how your business can prepare for the transition. You’ll come away with a detailed understanding of the environmental attributes of concrete and how it can contribute to the green building movement.
Click here for additional details and to register. You may also contact NRMCA's Tien Peng at 206-913-8535 or tpeng@nrmca.org for more information.
NRMCA will host a free Webinar on Monday, December 16, from 3 - 4 p.m. Eastern time to update concrete industry professionals on key sustainability issues facing the industry and NRMCA tools and initiatives to help members address these issues. The green building movement continues to expand at an unprecedented rate and there are many opportunities and challenges for the concrete industry. To take full advantage of these opportunities and address the challenges, you must have a full understanding of issues facing the industry and how these issues can affect your business. This Webinar will present the key sustainability issues and NRMCA tools and initiatives that can help you address them. This is the first of a series of periodic Webinars that will address specific topics, including:
• MIT Research Results
• Disaster Resiliency Initiatives
• LEED v4 and new reporting requirements, including EPDs, RSS and HPDs
• Concrete industry efforts to address key Wood First initiatives
• Adopting life cycle costing and life cycle assessment at the state and local level
• Education opportunities
Concrete industry professionals are encouraged to attend this informative free Webinar by clicking here. For more information, contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at LLemay@nrmca.org or 847-918-7101.
Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for the Week of November 25 - 27, please click here.
If you would like to receive this weekly updated link in a separate e-mail, or if you have questions or comments about the roundup, contact NRMCA’s Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org.
NRMCA's CCSP Module III, Business Knowledge, will be held February 11 - 13, 2014, in Silver Spring, MD. Class content covers how to use break-even analysis in pricing, the fundamentals of cash flow, contract law, collections and antitrust regulation. Each is a critical component to assure sales staff sell every cubic yard profitably. The curriculum stands alone; attendees do NOT have to attend CCSP I or II first. The class only runs once a year. Hotel discount date ends January 17, the last day NRMCA will take reservations.
CCSP III is a required class in the STEPS Sales and Promotion program.
Click here for more course information, staff contact and registration options.
NRMCA's December Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, January 7, is the Green Building with Concrete: Sustainable Design & Construction. This comprehensive book explains how concrete can be used for sustainable design and construction. It offers insight into new technological and social developments guiding the introduction of green buildings and examines the attributes that concrete has to offer the green building movement. The text also highlights research on economic analysis, particularly life cycle costing, to provide a full picture of the economic benefits of concrete.
Order online today and receive 15% off. The regular member price is $125.00, Internet Special $106.25, plus shipping. Discount Code is: ISDEC13
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.
December 5, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis
Email: Glenn Ochsenreiter, 240-485-1140
December 9, Silver Spring, MD
Regional ConcreteWorks, Atlantic Region
Email: Nicole Maher, 240-485-1158
December 9-12, Online Course and Certification
Concrete's Role in Sustainable Development
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 10-13, Orlando, FL *Sold Out
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 16, Free Webinar
NRMCA Concrete Sustainability Update
E-mail: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101
December 23, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete - Part 1 (*Part 2 on December 30)
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
2014
January 9, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities
Email: Glenn Ochsenreiter, 240-485-1140
January 10, Jonesboro, AR
Pervious Concrete Technician Certification
Email: Rita Madison
January 14, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
January 14, Free Webinar
New Radical Material and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEEDv4
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
January 15, Free Webinar
STEPS™ A Long Term Career Tool for the RMC Industry
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
January 20-23, Webinar
Building Green with Concrete
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
January 27-31, Orlando, FL
Regional Concrete Technologist Training & Certification "Short Course"
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
January 28, Webinar
RCC: Intro to Design and Construction Webinar
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
January 29, Free Webinar
Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities
Email: Glenn Ochsenreiter, 240-485-1140
February 11, Free Webinar
New Radical Material and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEEDv4
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
February 11-12, Online Course
Designing Jointed Concrete Pavement for Streets and Parking Areas
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
February 11-13, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP III: General Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
February 18, Webinar
Understanding Asphalt
Email: Brian Killingsworth, 830-438-2690
February 18-20, Silver Spring, MD
Dispatcher Training Forum
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
February 24-27, Webinar
LCA of Concrete Structures
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
March 18, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
March 18-20, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP IV: Professional Sales Skills Workshop
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
March 25, Webinar
Concrete Overlays for Streets and Local Roads and Parking Lots
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
May 6, Webinar
Soils 101
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
June 17, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
July 8, Webinar
Understanding Asphalt
Email: Brian Killingsworth, 830-438-2690
August 19, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
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December 4, 2013
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